Square can vacuum closing machine



Dec zfi, 1950 s c 2,535,870

SQUARE CAN VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE Filed July 31. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l M. M. 550 W/CK IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 26, 1950 M. M. SEDWICK SQUARE CAN VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31. 1946 M. M. 550 max IN VEN TOR.

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SQUARE CAN VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. M. SE 0 WIGK INVENTOR.

Filed July 31. 1946 M. M. SEDWICK SQUARE CAN VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE III/l I III/ll 1/ 1/ l'lIllIIII/l/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 SEDW/CK IN V EN TOR.

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SQUARE CAN VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE Filed July a1, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. 550 W/CK INVENTOR- Patented Dec. 26, 1950 SQUARE CAN VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE Matthew M. Sedwick, Syracuse, N. Y. assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 31, 1946, Serial No. 687,244

9 Claims.

The following detailed specification relates to novel improvements in a semi-automatic, combined vacuumizing and closing machine for cans. More specifically, it constitutes an improvement on the prior joint application of Alfred L. Kronquest and the present applicant for patent on a container vacuum closing machine filed September 19, 1942, Serial Number 458,990, now Patent No. 2,450,243, issued Sept. 28, 1948.

Machines of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent application are adapted to receive individual cans filled with food stuffs and the like, subject them to the desired degree of vacuum, apply a cover or lid to the open end and then accomplish a sealing or seaming operation.

It is an object of my invention to facilitate and expedite the steps of applying vacuum to the filled can, lift it into engagement with its cover and finally carry out the seaming operation promptly on the production of the desired degree of vacuum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover operated control means for preventing production of a vacuum in a can sealing chamber if a cover is not present in the chamber.

It is a further object of my invention to control the lifting and sealing operations subject to the presence of the cover in appropriate position.

It is also an object of my invention to utilize the produced vacuum, for the purpose of holding the door of the vacuumizing chamber in closed or sealed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide means by which cans of widely different heights can be accommodated and successfully sealed without any adjustment of the machine.

Among the objects of my invention is the provision for ready access to the seaming means for its adjustment or replacement.

A still further object of my invention is to provide simplified adjustable control of the seaming means by the movement of the assembled can and cover.

These and other incidental objects of the invention will be understood from the following detailed disclosure of one form of my invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown the preferred form thereof on the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine for vacuum closing rectangular cans;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2---2. of

2 Fig. 1 showing the vacuumizing chamber and pneumatic lift;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the vacuumizing chamber taken on line 3 -33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the same with the door removed.

Fig. 5 is a median, vertical section showing an optional arrangementof can pad and its guiding means;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the same on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a median, vertical section of the assembly positioning means in the base parallel to the plane of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the solenoid con trolled vacuum valve;

Fig. 9 is a sideview of the switch trip; and,

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical circuits and operating parts.

The improved features have been incorporated in a semi-automatic combined vacuumizing and closing machine of the general type disclosed in the above mentioned joint patent application of the applicant and A. L. Kronquest. The mechanism includes a cast metal base ll substantially rectangular in plan. The base is provided with a front door l2 permitting access to the operating features enclosed within the base. Other features include an electrically operated vacuum pump similar to that in the above patent application and not illustrated here. This pump exhausts the contents of the filled can and provides motive power for reciprocating the lifting piston.

A housing I3 is mounted upon the base II. It is generally conical in form. The front is open above a curb M. The opening above the curb i4 is occupied by a can vacuumizing and elevating assembly [5 which in its lower portion constitutes a lift cylinder whilethe upper portion forms a vacuum chamber [6. The vacuum chamber 16 is closed in front by means of a door IT. This door is hinged at one side to the assembly l5 and seals the vacuum chamber by means of a gasket 18.

It will be noted that the door does not necessarily include a latch. In fact, the absence of the latch is relied upon as a factor in the proper operation of the mechanism. When the operator holds the door closed and vacuum develops within the chamber, atmospheric pressure on the outside of the door will hold? it in a sealed position. If the door does not remain in sealed closed posil Q it s immediately apparent that for some reason the desired procedure is not being carried out.

The housing l3 has a detachable fixed top or division plate l9. This plate forms the bottom of the seaming turret 29. A hand hole and its closure 2| are provided in the front of this turret.

Referring again to the assembly which has the sliding fit in the housing I3, it will be noted that in its operative position the assembly I5 is held up in sealed position against the bottom of the division plate Hi. The lower portion of the assembly forms a lift cylinder 22. This has a lower cylinder head 23 with a slide bearing 24 and a resilient cushion ring 25.

The opposite or upper cylinder head 26 also has a slide bearing 2! into which a lubricating tube and fitting 26 leads.

Piston 29 is slidable in the bearings 21 and 24. It has a piston head 39 which reciprocates in sliding contact with the wall of the cylinder 22. A lower inlet pipe 3| passes through the cylinder head 23. A similar inlet pipe 32 passes through the upper cylinder head 26.

Pipes 3! and 32 are connected to a suitable manifold where connections can be reversed to connect either end of the cylinder to the source of vacuum or alternatively to atmosphere.

The upper head of the cylinder forms the bottom of the vacuum chamber l6. This chamber has a back 34 and the chamber is sealed against the division plate I 9 by gasket 35. 1

The top of the vacuum chamber is formed of a casting 36 which extends upwardly with a throat 3'! conforming to the cross section of the can to be closed and is generally rectangular or square.

The casting 36 has an opening in the rear in which a feeler rod 38 is slidable. This is held forward by a spring 39 and at its rear end operates a micro-switch 40.

The front of the casting 36 is cut away at the bottom to provide side grooves 4|, 4| suitable to receive a rectangular cover 42 as indicated in Fig. 3.

At the rear the casting 36 has two forwardly projecting ledges 43 on which the can cover 42 rests. The rear edge of the cover rests against the feeler rod 38, but normally does not cause the latter to operate the micro-switch.

The vacuum chamber has corresponding registering ledges 44, 44 (Fig. 3) by which the cover is Slipped into the side grooves 4|, 4| and onto the rear ledges 43.

The door H has a thickened portion 45 slightly less than the doorway There is a center boss 46 in the plane of the can cover 42 and engaging the front edge of the latter. The width of the boss 46 is such that when the door I! is closed, the cover 42 is moved back along the grooves 4| until it is centered above the open top-filled can 41. At the same time the rear edge of the cover 42 pushes the feeler rod 38 backward sufliciently to close the micro-switch.

In Fig. 3 parallel vertical ribs 48 are shown on the inner surface of the portion 45. These serve to hold the can against a stop on the can pad and as guide rails for the can in its vertical reciprocation.

The can pad 49 is mounted on the upper end of the piston 29. This pad has its front contiguous with the rails 48 on the door.

At the rear the pad carries a stop 50 against which the lower edge of the can is brought to rest when placed on the pad and preliminary to closing the door. Y

The hold-down lugs 5|, 5| are mounted on the pad 49 and by their enlarged heads serve to hold the lower rim of the can and insure proper position on the can pad 49.

Fig. 2 illustrates the maximum height of can 41 which can be closed in this mechanism. When the extent of the throw of the piston head 39 is less than the vertical travel required to raise the top of the can into engagement with the closing chuck, it will be desirable to use a filler such as shown in Fig. 4. Here the can pad 49 holds a filler block 52 in the same manner in which it would hold a can. This filler block fits between the hold-down lugs 5|, 5| and, in turn, carries on its upper surface corresponding holddown lugs 5|, 5| and rear stop 50. With this arrangement, cans of a great variety of heights may be mounted upon appropriately designed filler blocks so that they will all be brought into the closing turret by the normal length of travel of the piston 29.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a modified form of guide for the cans. Here the door H has overhanging tracks 53 between which a traveler 54 is held for free vertical reciprocation. The pad 49 rests against the front face of the traveler 54 and has a lug 55 which fits loosely within a transverse opening 56 in the traveler 54. In this form of the mechanism the door in closing registers the lug 55 within the opening 56 and thereafter the traveler moves with the pad 49 in its upward and downward movements.

The turret 29, of which the division plate I9 is a part, contains the seaming mechanism. This seaming mechanism is analogous to that shown in the joint application referred to and forms no essential part of this invention. It consists of a seaming head 5'! which includes a chuck 58 proportioned to receive the cover 4'2.

Associated with the seaming head 51 is a series of seaming rolls 59. The operating details of the seaming head will be found in the above named case.

A push rod 69 slides vertically through the longitudinal axis of the seaming head. At its lower end it carries a knock-out pad 6|.

The turret 20 has a head 62 with a hollow central boss 63. On this is mounted a cap 64 which surrounds the push rod 66. The push rod is arranged so that the knock-out pad is suspended beneath the chuck 58 and in the path of the cover 42. The push rod also has an adjustable flanged collar 65. Mounted on the cap 64 is a bracket 66 which supports a rock arm 61. The vertical portion of the rock arm 61 has a pivoted latch trip 68. The front end of the trip is pointed as shown in Fig. 1 and extends normally within the path of the flanged collar 65. The rear end of the trip is weighted to maintain the trip in a horizontal plane. As the push rod is lifted by the knock-out pad, the trip 68 causes the arm 61 to rock, depressing its horizontal portion.

A micro-switch 69 is adjustably mounted on the bracket 66 within the path of movement of the lever 61. Thus upward movement of the push rod 66 will close the micro-switch 69 momentarily, after which the rock arm 61 resumes the position shown in Fig. 1. When the knockout pad is forced down, the collar 65 depresses the point of the trip overcoming the weight on the opposite side. In this manner the collar 65 passes the trip 68 without rocking the lever 61.

The means for disassembling the vacuum chamber from the seaming equipment for inspection, adjustment or replacement of -the lat- "ter is shown "in Figs. land 7. The base "M has a horizontal transverse rock shaft '10 loosely journaled in the opposite walls of the base. Intermediate the bearings, the shaft It has a keyed sleeve H. This sleeve has a pair of bearings T2 carries :a yoke 11 which, in turn, is pivoted in bearings 18 to the lower cylinder head 23 of the vacuumizing chamber.

The rock shaft projects beyond :one side of the base H and has a keyed connection to a hand lever 19. This hand lever has a sector =80 with a slot through which a bolt '8 passes and is held screw threadedl-y in the adjacent wall of the base II. By means of this arrangement the hand lever 19 may be shifted to rock the sleeves H and lower the yoke H with the vacuumizing chamber and can elevating assembly It.

This separates the assembly of chamber and cylinder from the division plate I9 (see Fig. 2) and permits the removal of a part of the division plate 19 or access through it to the seaming mechanism.

Operating means for applying vacuum to "the piston cylinder is mounted in the base 11. iihis means includes a housing 82. A solenoid 83 is carried by the housing and operates a slide valve 84. The valv 84 is connected to the vacuum pump through port 85. The port 85 may be connected by means of conduits 8.6 and 81 to opposite ends of the piston cylinder through pipes 3| and 32. The port not so connected at the moment will be vented to atmosphere.

The general operation of this mechanism is diagramatically represented on Fig. 10. A can 4! is filled with the material which it is desired to vacuumize before the can is sealed. The can is inserted through the front opening of the vacuumizing chamber and placed upon the can pad 49.

A can cover 42 is fitted through the open doorway and rests upon the ledges surrounding the upper portion of the chamber I6. The edge of the can is in contact with the plunger of the cover switch 6'0 but does not exert any pressure.

A switch 88 is carried in the base of the chamber in line with the travel of the door I! and is closed when the latter is closed.

By closing the door l1, switches 40 and 88 are both closed thus delivering current to a solenoid 93 which opens a vacuum valve 94. The vacuum is created by a constantly operating vacuum pump 92.- The valve is connected as indicated to the chamber l6. It is also connected alternatively either to the pump or to an atmospheric vent.

As the vacuum develops in the chamber 16, atmospheric pressure acting upon door I! maintains the latter sealed, and thus is an evident indication that the procedure is being followed normally.

The production of vacuum in the chamber I6 collapses the bellows associated therewith and closes the bellows switch 35. Thereupon the current through the solenoid 83 shifts the vacuum valve 82 and applies vacuum above the piston head. The piston head is thereupon raised in a single, quick movement. This brings the can 4'! up beneath the cover 42 which has been centered by the movement of the door. The can with the cover loosely on it then rises and lifts the knockout pad GI and seats the cover against the chuck.

B Collar 65 gives lateral movement to :rock arm .61 and closes the :switch 69 momentarily.

The closing of this circuit engages the clutch 9i) and starts the seaming rolls 59 into onecycle of operation after which the clutch is automatically disengaged.

At the conclusion of this movement, the resetting trip :95 opens the vacuum valve 94 and vents thechamber 34. At the same time the vacuum' bellows expands to open the switch 89. The valve for the lift cylinder is thus reversed and vacuum then applied below the piston head to lower the can pad and sealed can. i

As soon as atmospheric pressure has been restored within the chamber .34 through the vent of valve 94, door :1 7 may be opened and the'sealed can removed. The mechanism is then in position for the insertion of another can cover and filled can.

By this arrangement a simplified procedure is obtained for vacuumizing and sealing cans, especially rectangular or square in cross section. The assembly of can and cover and their presentation to the seaming rolls is made dependent on theprop'er supply and positioning of both can and cover. In addition, the atmospheric pressure working against the vacuum in the seaming chamber determines the satisfactory sealing of the entry door.

It will also be apparent that the structure permits ready disassembly of the vacuum chamber and sealing turret so that access to the latter can be eflected easily for adjustment, repair and replacement.

Many changes in minor details of proportion, materials and operating elements will be possible within the purview of the invention as comprehended in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a-container sealing machine, a can-seaming turret, a detachable centrally apertured bottom plate for the turret, a can elevating and vacuumizing assembly shiftable into position against the bottom plate, a vacuumizing chamber in the assembly, a vacuum operated lifting pad in the chamber and means for moving the assembly into sealing engagement with the bottom plate of the turret.

2. In a container sealing machine, a housing having a can-seaming turret, a detachable centrally apertured bottom plate for the turret, a can elevating and vacuumizing assembly in the housing and shiftable into position against the bottom plate, a vacuumizing chamber in the assembly, a vacuum operated lifting pad in the chamber, a rock shaft in the base of the housing, an arm on the shaft, a wrist-pin pivoted to the arm, a link between the wrist-pin and assembly and means for rocking the shaft and shifting the assembly into engagement with the turret.

3. In a container sealing machine, a housing having a can-seaming turret, a detachable centrally apertured bottom plate for the turret, a can elevating and vacuumizing assembly in the housing and shiftable into position against the bottom plate, a vacuumizing chamber in the assembly, a piston cylinder aligned with said assembly, a piston movable in said cylinder, said piston having an extension within the chamber, a lifting pad on said extension. and means for moving the assembly into sealing engagement with the bottom plate of the turret.

4. In a container sealing machine, a housing having a can-seaming turret, a centrally apertured bottom plate for the turret, a can elevating and vacuumizing assembly in the housing and shiftable into position against the bottom plate, a vacuumizing chamber in the assembly, a vacuum operated lifting pad in the chamber, a door in theside of the chamber and can guiding means on the inner face of the door.

5. In a container sealing machine, a housing having a can-seaming turret, a centrally apertured bottom plate for the turret, a can elevating and vacuumizing assembly in the housing and shiftable into position against the bottom plate, a vacuumizing chamber in the assembly, a vacuum operated lifting pad in the chamber, a door in the side of the chamber and a slidable traveller on the inner face of the door for guiding the can.

6. In a container sealing machine, a housing having a can-seaming turret, a centrally apertured bottom plate for the turret, a can elevating and vacuumizing assembly in the housing and positioned against the bottom plate, a vacuumizing chamber in the assembly, a vacuum operated lifting pad in the chamber, a door in the side of the chamber, transverse can cover supporting ledges in the chamber opposite the upper portion of the door, switch means mounted in the chamber opposite said ledges, means on the door to cause the can cover on the ledges to actuate the switch and means responsive to said switch to create a vacuum within the chamber.

'7. In a container sealing machine, a housing having a can-seaming turret, a centrally apertured bottom plate for the turret, a can elevating and vacuumizing assembly in the housing and positioned against the bottom plate, a vacuumizing chamber in the assembly, a vacuum operated lifting pad in the chamber, a door in the side of the chamber, an electric switch operated by the closing of the door for creating a vacuum in the chamber, transverse can cover supporting means in the chamber opposite the upper portion of the door, switch means mounted in the chamber opposite the supporting means in series with said first switch and means on the door to cause the can cover to actuate the second named switch.

8. In a container sealing machine, a turret, can-seaming mechanism in the turret, a can elevating and vacuumizing assembly positioned against the bottom of the turret, a vacuumizing chamber in the assembly, a vacuum operated lifting pad in the chamber, fixed supporting means in the chamber to support a can cover in vertical alignment with a can on the pad, 2. knock-out pad in the turret above the can cover and means for actuating the can-seaming mechanism when the can cover is raised against the knock-out pad.

9. In a can closing machine, a seaming mechanism disposed in a turret, a housing positioned beneath the turret and having a chamber in communication with the seaming mechanism, means for vacuumizing the chamber, a can lifting pad in the chamber, fixed supporting means in the chamber for supporting a cover in alignment with a can on the pad, a knockout pad positioned above the cover, vacuum means operable by vacuum in the chamber for lifting the can pad and moving the cover into lifting engagement with the knock-out pad, and means operable by the rising knock-out pad for actuating the seaming mechanism to connect the cover to the can.

MATTHEW M. SEDWICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,244,508 Kramer Oct. 30, 1917 2,033,951 Nordquist Mar. 17, 1936 2,113,591 Jacobs Apr. 12, 1938 2,397,979 Peterson et a1. "1. Apr. 9, 1946 

